Change the Phoenix City Ordinance to Allow the City to Offer Recycling Services to Businesses and Multifamily Housing

Phoenix is the 6th largest city in the US, yet we have one of the lowest waste diversion rates in the country. Though we have a goal of 40% waste diversion by 2020, most cities have already surpassed this number by leaps and bounds. You can read an article I wrote on this matter HERE.

The city currently, by law, cannot offer recycling services to commercial business or multifamily housing. The ordinance change is literally crossing out the words "does not" and replacing them with "may." This is the first step that needs to open the door for the possibility of more recycling.

I started this petition back in 2012 and there were some meetings between the private waste sector and the city. I was assured the city was "working on it." In the meantime, I have continued to write and talk about this issue. I have met with the Mayor and the majority of Council members. I have tried to educate them to the benefits of making this ordinance change.

The issue needs to first go to the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. If it receives the votes, it would then go before the entire City Council. It is now being stalled from getting put on the agenda.

It is time for our leaders to actually ACT and to change this antiquated ordinance once and for all.

This petition was delivered to:

Mayor Stanton

Deputy City ManagerPaul Blue

Deputy City ManagerRick Naimark

11 more decision makers...

Director of Public WorksJohn Trujillo

Councilwoman Pastor

Councilwoman Gallego

City ManagerEd Zuercher

Councilwoman Williams

Councilman Gates

Councilman Nowakowski

Councilman DiCiccio

Councilman Valenzuela

Councilman Waring

Phoenix Sustainability OfficerMark Hartman

Letter to

Mayor Stanton

Deputy City ManagerPaul Blue

Deputy City ManagerRick Naimark

Director of Public WorksJohn Trujillo

Councilwoman Pastor

Councilwoman Gallego

City ManagerEd Zuercher

Councilwoman Williams

Councilman Gates

Councilman Nowakowski

Councilman DiCiccio

Councilman Valenzuela

Councilman Waring

Phoenix Sustainability OfficerMark Hartman

Dear Mayor Stanton, Council and Staff,

Phoenix is the 6th largest city in the country, yet we are chasing the caboose when it comes to common sense sustainability measures. It is currently illegal for the City of Phoenix to offer recycling services to businesses and multifamily housing. This is simply unacceptable. Only private companies can provide trash/recycling service at these facilities, and they often do not provide the opportunity to recycle. Recycling is one of the easiest ways to conserve natural resources and help the environment.

Changing this ordinance is the first step in the right direction. It can earn real revenue for the city, be used for marketing purposes when trying to attract new business and manufacturing to Phoenix, provide positive PR for the City, help curb greenhouse gas emissions, support and add value to the large project with ASU, and best of all, it will help the City reach the 40% waste diversion rate goal prior to 2020 which would be fantastic.

This petition should demonstrate to you, Mayor Stanton, Phoenix City Council and staff, that your constituents - the citizens and business owners of Phoenix - care about recycling and want this law changed. We ask that it be put on the agenda to start the ball rolling ASAP.

If we are going to repair our economy and retain the future leaders of our city, it must start with stepping into the 21st century and taking cue from every other progressive thinking city across the nation to offer recycling services to EVERYONE.